If you are a cat owners, or have ever known anyone with cats or even been in the same room with cats, you will know that they love to jump on countertops. In general, cats like to jump on many items. Cats like the height because it gives them a better idea of the room and they are able to evaluate their surroundings more. Moreover, some cats just like to jump!

 

There are many situations where a cat will jump on the countertops. Keeping cats off countertops is often a very sought after questions. Some reasons that cats jump on countertops is to use them as a perch to get to something else. This could be to get to the cabinets or maybe a window. Other reasons include attention and negative reinforcement.

 

The area we are going to focus on in the article, however, is to deal with a cat that is jumping on the countertops because they are being lured there. You may be thinking I do not try to get my cat up there; I want them down! What you will realize when finishing this article is that you are indeed attracting your cat up there whether you believe it or not.

 

Why Is My Cat Interested in the Countertop?

 

The list goes on and on when trying to find out why your cat is jumping on the counter. One of the most common reasons is the fact that there is food on the counter. Actually, this can even be a fact of there “was” food on the countertop. The cats can smell the food remnants and therefore want to have a tasty treat. In fact, they might not have even smelled the food; they could have just seen it. They know where the food comes from and where it is placed. Cats are very observant creatures and they learn by habit and repetition.

 

Tips to Keeping Cat Off Countertops

 

If your cat is lured by the food, try these tips to make their interest dissipate.

 

1.Do not let your cat observe you giving them food off the counter. This could be treats, your food, etc. Do not let them see you grab something from the counter and then give it to them. They will associate this with not only food being up there, but the fact that it was meant for them and it is OK.

 

 

2.Use a spray bottle with water. Cats are notorious for disliking water. When your cat jumps up on the counter, show your cat disapproval by spraying them with water. Be careful not to overdo it. You do not need your cat looking like they just came out of the bath!

 

3.A newer approach is to use a clicker. Clickers are actually used for training and allow the cat to associate the “click” noise with an action or something positive. The clicker allows you to focus on positive reinforcement rather than punishment.

 

4.Use tape or aluminum foil to deter your cat from jumping on the countertops. This works, either or the two, because cats do not like either of them. Cats dislike louder noises such as aluminum foil and they also do not like the sticky feeling on their paws.

 

5.Cans filled with dry beans. A more “messy” approach is tin cans with dry beans put in them. You place the tin cans closely together to line your counter; usually about a half inch apart. When the cat jumps on the counter, they will knock over the tin cans onto the floor. When this happens, it will create a loud noise that will scare the cat. The goal is to provide an unpleasant experience for the cat. By making it unpleasant, yet safe, the cat will not try to do it again, as it provided no satisfaction. Note: make sure you tape the top of the can so beans do not fly out when the tin can falls to the ground.

 

6.There is a product called the “scat mat” that seems to work well. The basic concept is that the mat provided a very dull shocking sensation when the cat jumps on it. It is the same as the shock you would get if you were running your feet, with socks, against the ground and touched a metal object. It provides the dull shock immediately, and the cat does not revert back to jumping on the counters.

 

7.Make sure your counters are wiped down really well and there are no food remnants.

 

8.Do not keep food on the countertop exposed. This is a sure fire way to call your cat up on the countertop for a treat.

 

9.Keep the food dish and water away from the counter area. This will allow the cat to distinguish between their eating area and yours.

 

10.If you do not want your cat up on the counter top; you cannot ever let them up there. Make sure you are not sending your cat mixed signals. Do you sometimes call your cat up there so you can pet them? If so, you are sending mixed signals to your cat. A cat does not speak English; they cannot distinguish exactly what you are trying to get across if you are sending mixed signals.

 

 

Remember to keep these in mind at all times. These are just a very few ways that keep your cat off the countertop as well as some reasons why. Who knows? You might just need to give your cat a little extra attention. Maybe they do it because they feel like negative attention is better than none. Also, give them more toys to focus on. By distracting them, they will not find the countertop so appealing if they are concentrating on something else. Each cat is different and you need to find out the reason before you can come to and implement an effective solution for your counter jumping cat woes.